Jazz Del Corazon starts fundraising gigs for musicians in need

February 19th, 2014 by Temple City Tribune

“I truly feel that we need to reach out to help our fellow musicians/singers. A lot of the time, musicians, who follow their passion, and do not have a “day gig” to sustain themselves, struggle and some do not have insurance. We, singers need to come together for each other and help one another. And what better way than using our music and passion to help each otherA!X” says Jackie Gibson, Co-Producer of Jazz Del Corazon Series.
Gibson, conceived the idea of helping fellow musician/friends in the community when they were in serious financial need due to life changing events. Collaborating with producer Clifford Bell, they joined forces to create, “Jazz Del Corazon” a new series of shows/ performances of talented artists, creating beautiful music to raise money for fellow musicians and their family members, needing financial assistance.
Sort of a mini Jazz Festival!KThe first show will be on Sunday, February 23 at Red, White and Bluezz, Jazz Club, located at 50 South El Molino Ave, sharing a beautiful courtyard with the famous Pasadena Playhouse. It will be a jazz “brunch to lunch” from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM. For reservations, call (626)792-4441. There is a suggested donation.
The first recipient is Jerry Monteros, local Pasadena sax and woodwinds player, who recently underwent a heart transplant procedure at Cedars Sinai.
Monteros was born in Riverside and his dad was an engineer at Douglas Aircraft – a modest Latino family. Monteros was an Editorial intern at the old Herald Examiner Newspaper. Music was his passion. He and his wife, Marnie, met at The Sycamores, where they both worked as counselors. Monteros had been in and out of hospitals with his heart condition at least 47 times. When they wanted to marry, the doctors felt that he could not take any kind of journey. They wanted to marry in Las Vegas. So they brought Las Vegas to the hospital. They had an Elvis impersonator perform the ceremony, and all of the doctors and nurses there were witnesses and audience.
It almost did not happen, when the security at the hospital detained the Elvis, because they thought he was some kind of crack pot!K One might say that Elvis had trouble GETTING into the building.
Last January doctors discovered he had an enlarged heart and Monteros had to quit teaching. He had spent a lot of time performing with his group, “Watercolors”, in the Pasadena area.
One of their favorite places to play is the Novel CafA!X in Pasadena. “Watercolors” will be joining them Sunday, along with Dolores Scozzesi, Quinn Johnson, Lauren White, Mitch Ellis, Pierre Chambers, & Lorainna Marro. Steve Rawlins is the musical director.
Monteros was in denial when the doctors first told him he needed a heart transplant!K But soon, his health began to decline and he realized he needed to accept the fact he needed a new heart or die!K
When Jackie Gibson went to see Monteros several weeks ago, they talked about the fundraiser and it brought such a smile to his eyes. Gibson asked him what was the first thing he wanted to do when he got home from the hospital, and he said,
“Start practicing!!”
Music doth heal…
-Courtesy Photo